We’ve been living in Brazil for over a year and a half now and I can assure that we’ve used every opportunity we’ve had to get to know this great country.
Our adventures have already taken us to a lot of places: the northeastern states, Fortaleza, Pernambuco, Maranhao, the vibrant city of Salvador, Bahia state, the colonial towns of Minas, the megalopolis of Sao Paulo and Rio and its coastline, or south of the country with strong German influences.
In this post I want to recommend some of my favorite spots I’ve found in this country. As many of you know I am obsessed with getting where nobody gets to, with avoiding the masses and established travel route… So, although many of these spots do not occupy large pages in guidebooks, if you plan to make a trip to Brazil, I recommend you put them on your priority list. Many of these places have the charm they have because they are so difficult to access but remember that” the journey is part of the journey” so enjoy!

1. Boipeba Island , Bahia – Boipeba is the unknown brother of the much more agitated “Morro de Sao Paulo” quintessential island holiday destination for Brazilians, south of the city of Salvador de Bahia. Boipeba is accessed by boat or 4×4 from Morro de Sao Paulo. It takes long to get there but what is waiting for you is absolutely wonderful. Due to its natural heritage, the region was recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. The beaches are absolutely heavenly, full of coconut trees and it is rare to see someone strolling around. Among them: Moreré beach , Bainema or Coeira beac . The villages of Moreré and Velha Boipeba are Brazil in its purest essence. Stroll and watch, sunbathe , practice sports , enjoy the Bahian cuisine . My advice: do it without prejudice and with an open mind.

3. Atins , Maranhao – Atins is the last point of the tour of the Rio Preguiças, one of the required excursions if you decide to visit the Natural Park of Lençóis Maranheses. This tour usually starts in Barreirinhas and goes down the river and finally gets to Caburé and Atins. The river journey is a contrast between the green of the dense vegetation with the blue sky and the sand dunes. I encourage you to do the trip in one of the boats without engine. Even though they are slower you can enjoy the silence listening to the wild fauna. Atins is the last town in the Preguiças River delta. Atins is lush vegetation between the sea, the river and the vastness of the dunes and lagoons. It is a fishing village with only a couple of pousadas and restaurants but it is totally worth getting there and staying overnight if you have time. In the evening you can observe the arrival of hundreds of red Ibis land on the beach. Not much more to do: watch the stars, talk quietly, read a book, meditate… an unforgettable experience.4. Jericoacoara, Fortaleza – Jeri, como se conoce en Brasil, es ya un destino archiconocido entre los kitesurferos por sus perfectos vientos para la práctica de este deporte. Aunque no lo practiques también te recomiendo fervientemente su visita. Está a 4 horas de la ciudad de Fortaleza en coche y se hace un poco pesado el trayecto especialmente el último tramo por la playa. Es parte de lo que le hace mantener la esencia pues al estar categorizado como Parque Nacional está prohibida la construcción de carreteras. Jeri cuenta ya con una buena oferta de posadas y hoteles boutique así como restaurantes. En nuestra visita nos quedamos en el hotel Chili Beach que recomiendo mucho pues está extremadamente cuidado en los detalles y servicio. Nos encantaron las dos excursiones en buggie que se pueden hacer: la de las lagunas y la de las dunas de Tatajuba. La puesta de sol en la duna, caipirinha en mano, es otro “must” que no te puedes perder!!

4. Jericoacoara, Fortaleza – Jeri, as it is known in Brazil, is already a well-known destination among kitesurfers for its perfect winds. Even if you don’t kitesurf a visit to Jeri is highly recommendable. It is 4 hours away from the city of Fortaleza by car and the journey can result a bit tedious especially the last stretch along the beach. It’s part of what makes Jeri keep the essence. As it is categorized as National Park road construction is prohibited. Jeri has a good choice of pousadas, boutique hotels and restaurants. On our visit, we stayed at Chili Beach hotel which I highly recommend as it is extremely well kept and service is excellent. We loved both the buggy tours that are offered: the lagoons and Tatajuba Dunes. The sunset on the dune enjoying a caipirinha is another “must” that you cannot miss!

5. Paraty , Rio de Janeiro – Paraty is the port for the goods coming from Minas through the Gold Route. Its colonial architecture is perfectly preserved as all the inhabitants contribute by painting their facades and keeping everything in good condition. Paraty is similar to the aforementioned Tiradentes but due to the influx of people from Sao Paulo and Rio is more sophisticated in terms of its leisure offer, hotels and restaurants. Galleries abound throughout the city as well as small artisan shops. Be sure to talk for a few minutes with the artists, their stories will for sure surprise you. I also strongly recommend a boat ride across the bay stopping at any of the nearby beaches. Another walk that is worth the effort is the one to get to Praia do Sono. You stop the car and do a small trek to the beach, you be will be alone! If you are looking for stronger experiences can also enjoy a multi-day hike from beach to beach camping!
Espero que te haya gustado la selección pero ha sido tan difícil escoger con la cantidad de lugares espectaculares que hay aquí que haré un segundo post. Si viajas a Brasil no dejes de escribir con cualquier duda que te pueda surgir, estaré encantada de ayudarte. Os dejo con una foto subida a la palmera.

Hope you liked the selection but it was so hard to choose because of the amount of spectacular places in Brazil. If you travel to Brazil do not forget to drop a note with any questions you may have, I’ll be happy to help you. A picture of me climbing the palm tree!

About Me

I am a São Paulo based traveler, consultant and entrepreneur.
I am a passionate traveler that has visited over 35 countries. My traveling obsession is to avoid the mass and getting where nobody gets to. I love exploring new places, meeting the locals, enjoying pristine nature and practicing adventure sports. Excellent food and a charming small hotel give the final touch to wonderful journeys.